December Plant of the Month: Sarcococca
Sarcococca is the perfect choice for adding evergreen structure and sweet scent to the winter garden.
Also known Christmas box, or sweet box, Sarcococca may not steal the show, but easily earns its place in any size of garden, being hardy, shade loving, evergreen, and compact. It lifts the spirits during the short days of winter when we can enjoy it’s sweetly scented winter flowers and glossy evergreen foliage. It’s extremely tolerant of shade and is therefore perfect for growing in a woodland border or shady corner.
Appearance
- Sarcococca are bushy evergreen shrubs with glossy, dark green leaves, that look similar to traditional box (Buxus).
- In winter, they produce small but highly fragrant, creamy-white flowers, some flushed pink, followed by black, purple or red berries.
- Plants are slow growing to between 60 cm and 1.5 m and they usually spread, making them excellent for ground cover.
Right: Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna ‘Purple Stem’
Where to Plant Them
- Choose a spot in semi-shade or shade: rich moisture-retentive soil is best, but Sarcococca will tolerate dry shade.
- To make the most of the strong sweet fragrance during winter, plant next to a path, window or door.
- Sarcococca are great as evergreen infill in a planting bed providing winter nectar for insects.
- As a small shrub they work well in a winter pot display with other winter flowering plants such as winter heather and hellebores. Place on a patio or next to a bench and enjoy the sweet honey fragrance on a sunny winter’s day.
- Being part of the box family, Sarcococca can be clipped into low hedges like regular box (Buxus sempervirens), with the advantage of not suffering from box blight.
- They do not have a such tight neat shape as box and therefore their lines will never be as sharp, but as a stress free, low, evergreen hedge, it is a great choice.
Left: Sarcococca ruscifolia
Pests and Diseases
- The only risk to Sarcococca is it can be susceptible to honey fungus. To help prevent this, make sure drainage is good and remove any old or dead wood.
Right: Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna ‘Purple Stem’
Planting and Plant Care
- Although it does well in shade or part shade, it can be grown in sun, but must be watered regularly in warm, dry summers, otherwise it will sulk.
- Sarcococca are very low maintenance and need little or no care once established. Mulch in spring or autumn or both; you could also give the plant a general fertiliser in spring.
Left: Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis
Types and Varieties to Consider
- Sarcococca confusa: A common hardy variety, with white flowers. As the largest of the Sarcococcas, it grows to 1.5m height x 1.5m spread.
- Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna ‘Purple Stem’: This variety has reddish-purple young shoots, pink-tinged flowers and graceful narrow pointed leaves and blue-black berries.
- Sarcococca hookeriana ‘Winter Gem’: A popular hybrid known for its intense fragrance, especially in winter, it has slightly pink tinged flowers.
- Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis: If you are looking for an alternative to box – as an edging or low hedging plant – then consider Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis – or dwarf sweet box.
Right: Sarcococca confusa
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Image Credits
Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna ‘Purple Stem’; Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna ‘Purple Stem’; Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis; Sarcococca confusa